Sanitary article, in particular a toilet, designed to permit a physiologically correct position for defecation even for elderly or disabled persons

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns a sanitary article, in particular a toilet with a form that permits a physiologically correct position for defecation, and is so practical that it can be used even by elderly or disabled persons. This toilet, which is a type that ensures that angle α, formed by the femur ( 3 ) with the lumbosacral segment ( 4 ) of the rachis, is less than 90°, is characterized by the fact that it provides a means of supporting said user&#39;s body ( 1 ), so that no burden is placed on the lower limbs, allowing the user to assume a position where the knees are higher than the pelvis, so that the knee joint is approximately at the height of the diaphragm.

This invention concerns a sanitary article, in particular a toilet witha form that permits a physiologically correct position for defecationand is so practical that it can be used even by the elderly or disabled.

It is known that during defecation, the position is extremely important,but despite this, toilets usually found in homes require a defecationposition that is substantially different from the ideal one. Inso-called “Turkish” toilets, the position is significantly better, andthe common experience of those who have had occasion to use a “Turkish”toilet is that they immediately notice that it facilitates defecation.

Thus, it is advisable to have a position with the trunk leaning forwardand resting on the thighs, with the forearms between the thorax and thethighs and pushing toward the hip points; a small platform under thefeet may also be useful. In this way, the abdomen does not expand whenone of necessity strains to evacuate.

This position does not result in evacuation without straining, butrather produces the minimum necessary straining, avoiding efforts thatcongest the face and further increase straining to defecate. During thisphase, the instinctive but erroneous movement is the so-called “Valsalvamaneuver,” which closes the glottis and congests the face, but alsocloses the anal canal as a reflex and excessively increases abdominalpressure. It is thus necessary to strain further to evacuate, as theeffort is made when the anal canal is not completely dilated.

We should also consider that the “Turkish” position reduces theanal-rectal angle by shifting the sacrum forward 1-2 centimeters. Thisoccurs through sacroiliac nutation and shifting the coccyx back.

In practice, in the “Turkish” position, the angle formed by the femurand the lumbosacral segment of the rachis is less than the approximately90° angle normally seen in the seats of toilets found in most homes.

On the other hand, the “Turkish” position is uncomfortable and putsexcessive pressure on the muscles of the lower limbs, both to staybalanced and to stand upright again after defecation. In fact, oftenafter standing back up, irritation or even pain may be experienced inthe lower limbs and feet. For this reason, the “Turkish” position isimpossible for the elderly and anyone with a disability affecting thelower limbs.

This invention overcomes the problems in the known technology byproposing a toilet, in compliance with claim 1, formed in a way thatallows the person to be seated comfortably, but with the limbs correctlypositioned with respect to the trunk, in order to minimize the strainingrequired to defecate, and thus eliminating the problems of thetraditional position. In addition, the fact that the person is seatedmakes it possible for the elderly and disabled to benefit from aphysiologically correct position without the significant negativeeffects that the “Turkish” toilet has on balance and the lower limbs. Inpractice, the toilet in this invention achieves the new result ofcombining the advantages of both types of toilet in the knowntechnology, as it combines the convenience of the traditional toiletseat with the physiologically more correct position of “Turkish”toilets, with special benefits, as noted, for the elderly or disabled,for whom this position is presently precluded.

The position achieved by using the toilet according to the invention isalso more correct than what is naturally achieved by squatting, as thebody is resting against the surface of the toilet and the various partsof the body are resting in the most correct reciprocal positions fordefecation, in physiological terms.

The invention will now be described, using one indicative example onlythat will show a preferred embodiment and will refer to the attachedfigures, where:

FIG. 1 shows a person in the act of defecating, seated on a toilet thatconforms to the invention

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two possible forms for the toilet according to theinvention

With regard to FIG. 1, (1) shows a person seated on a toilet (2)according to the invention, in the act of defecating. Said toilet (2)has a conformation that allows the person (1) to assume aphysiologically correct position for the function of defecating. Inparticular, the person's position is such that the knees are positionedhigher than the pelvis. In practice, as seen in FIG. 1, the knee jointis approximately at the height of the diaphragm. Under thesecircumstances, angle α, formed by the femur (3) and the lumbosacralsegment (4) of the rachis, is normally between 70° and 80°, while angleβ0 of the knee opening, that is the angle formed by the femur (3) andthe tibia (5), is normally between 65° and 75°.

It should be noted that the values of angles α and β are indicative, asthey depend on the person and his momentary position on the toilet. Inpractice this means that, while the articulation point between the femurand the pelvis remains the same, the person can move the trunk forwardor backward by a few centimeters, for purposes of finding the mostcomfortable position, thus changing angle α by a few degrees, whileangle β depends on the length of the legs and how much the personextends them, again to find the most comfortable position. There is a±50 range of variability for both angles α and β, depending on theperson's movements.

Observing FIG. 1, we see how the position assumed is substantially thesame as the position assumed on “Turkish” toilets, but is rotated aroundthe ankle to keep the trunk in an erect position. In reality, due toone's own weight, when using a “Turkish” toilet, the knee is flexed asfar as possible, but the extent of this flexion does not determine thephysiological correctness of the position, as the effectiveness ofdefecation depends essentially on said angle α, created by thelumbosacral rachis (4) and the femur (3).

In practice, the position illustrated is achieved by a seat whose heighth, is lower than usual, which induces one to naturally bend the trunkforward, to keep it in an erect position.

To make the seat more comfortable, a curved slab (6) should be placedbetween the toilet (2) and the person (1), which will serve the specificfunction explained below.

The upper portion (7) of the toilet (2), that is the part on which theslab is placed (6), has a concave form and includes a front portion (7a), which helps support the thighs, and a rear portion (7 b), thatoffers some support for the back.

The back support is necessary to avoid straining the abdominal muscles,while the support for the thighs is necessary as the feet would tend toslip forward, thus increasing angle α between the femur (3) and thelumbosacral rachis (4).

The height H of this front portion (7 a) should be selected to providethe broadest possible support to the thighs, that is as close aspossible to the knees, without interfering with the calves.

As the toilet (2) must be able to adapt to persons of different heights,this slab (6) can be made in different thicknesses to vary the height hof the seat. Particular attention should be placed on the fact that ashort person will not only need a lower height h, but will also need aconcavity with a smaller curvature. This means that, starting with avery thin slab, appropriate for small persons, slabs (6) for tallerpersons must have a differentiated thickness, thus remaining relativelythin at the edges and gradually becoming thicker in the middle.Similarly, using as an example a slab (6) with a uniform thickness foran average or tall person, an appropriate support for a short person canbe achieved by shaping the upper part of the slab (6), making it thinnertowards the front, so that the seat is moved forward to avoidinterference of the front part of the WC (2) with the person's calves(1). A scheme of this kind is shown in FIG. 2, where the dotted line (6a) shows a slab (6) appropriate for an average to tall person, and theunbroken line (6 b) shows a slab (6) appropriate for a short person.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show two possible schemes for the toilet (2). Theseschemes are completely equivalent, as they achieve the samephysiological position, albeit with differences due to style. As we seein FIGS. 2 and 3, the internal part of the toiler (2) is completelyidentical to that of traditional toilets, so that the plumbing isessentially the same as that commonly in use.

As a result of its reduced height, the toilet (2) should be equippedwith a pair of handles (8) designed to provide to the user (1) a supportin order to help him to pull himself up.

As is clear from the preceding description, a toilet (2) that conformsto the invention creates a physiologically correct position, not unlikethe one achieved in “Turkish” toilets, but without the significantinconveniences that in fact make it prohibitive for the elderly andthose with disabilities of the lower limbs.

The invention has been described using just one indicative example of aform of implementation. An expert in the sector will be able to findmany other forms of implementation, all of which fall within theprotection of the following claims.

1. Sanitary article, in particular a toilet (2) of a type that allowsthe user (1) to assume a physiologically correct position fordefecation, said position creating an angle α, formed of the femur (3)with the lumbosacral segment (4) of the rachis, that is less than 90°,characterized by the fact that it provides means designed to support thebody of said user (1), so that no burden is placed on the lower limbs,by having this user assume a position where the knees are higher thanthe pelvis, so that the knee joint is approximately at the height of thediaphragm.
 2. Sanitary article, according to claim 1, characterized bythe fact that said means designed to support the user's body (1) in away which does not burden the lower limbs, also acts to keep said user'strunk (1) in a substantially erect position, or slightly inclinedforward.
 3. Sanitary article, according to claim 1, characterized by thefact that said means designed to support said user's body (1) in a waythat does not burden the lower limbs, includes a surface (7), of saidtoilet (2), that is shaped in a way that when the user's body (1) isresting on said surface (7), it assumes said physiologically correctposition for defecation, with said angle α formed by the femur (3) withthe lumbosacral segment (4) of the rachis, between 70° and 80°. 4.Sanitary article, according to claim 3, characterized by the fact thatsaid surface (7), on which the user's body (1) rests, includes a frontportion (7 a) against which the user's thighs (1) rest, and a portion (7b), against which the user's back (1) rests.
 5. Sanitary article,according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it interposes acurved slab (6) between the surface (7) of said toilet (2) and theuser's body (1), with this slab (6) having a thickness that makes saidtoilet (2) adaptable to persons of different heights.
 6. Sanitaryarticle, according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said slab(6) has a varying thickness, in order to make the curve of said slab (6)appropriate for persons of different heights.
 7. Sanitary article,according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that said slab (6) has avarying thickness, in order to regulate the position of the user (1),based on his height, to avoid interference of the front part (7 a) ofsaid toilet (2) with the user's calves (1).
 8. Sanitary article,according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it provides a pairof handles (8) designed to provide to the user (1) a support in order tohelp him to pull himself up.